Page 2 | Waiting for secondary school appeal dates and advice on what to expect

Mayjane5 · 2026-04-04T13:42:24+00:00

we have put in two school appeals and now just waiting for the appeal date! Who else is waiting? Is the not knowing that’s the hardest. Anyone who has gone through the appeal any advice for what to expect on the day?

Kalimero · 12/04/2026 17:07

IlluminatingKarat48 · 11/04/2026 23:05

Of course — here's what I can think of. but please take this as additional opinion and not guidance. Every appeal is different, but the structure should be fairly consistent

Qs -
Note: You don't need to ask all of these. Pick whichever feel relevant to your situation.
my point of these is to test whether the school's case actually holds up, or whether they're just saying no because of unknown reasons.

Has the school ever admitted above its published admission number in previous years? — because if they have, it weakens their argument that one more pupil would cause harm.
Are any Year 7 classes currently sitting below 30? — because if there's space in even one class, the case for refusal is harder to justify.
Were any children admitted outside the normal round this year? — because if they've already made exceptions, it shows the school can flex when it chooses to.

S-Notes:
I would keep the speech short, and simple enough because it is not the first time, panels have seen nervous parents before. So even if you need to take these notes with you and carryon, nobody will think less of you for it.

1- Start with your child. Who they are, not a list of achievements — just a real sense of them as a person. Why: the panel is deciding about a child, not a file. Making them real matters. Probably something like - Child has great learning aptitude or great in the things which matters most to your child and parent as well.

2- Then why this school is right for this child specifically. Not "it's a good school" — what does it offer that genuinely fits them? A subject, a club, a way of teaching, something you saw on open day. Why: this is the heart of your case. Generic praise doesn't land, specific evidence does. For example - on open day you have interacted with students and you genuinely liked the confidence with which the students carry themselves etc.

3- Then the gap. What the allocated school can't provide in the same way. You're not attacking it, you're showing a mismatch. Why: the panel needs to weigh what your child loses by not attending — if there's no clear gap, there's no strong reason to overturn.

4 - Close with something simple. "We believe [school] is the right place for [child] and we'd request the panel to admit them." That's it. Why: a clean finish sticks. Rambling at the end undoes good work and again panels aren't trying to trip you up.

Wishing everyone the best with it.

Edited

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Thank you so much, very helpful insight 🙏🏼

Bossbear · 15/04/2026 22:55

IlluminatingKarat48 · 11/04/2026 23:05

Of course — here's what I can think of. but please take this as additional opinion and not guidance. Every appeal is different, but the structure should be fairly consistent

Qs -
Note: You don't need to ask all of these. Pick whichever feel relevant to your situation.
my point of these is to test whether the school's case actually holds up, or whether they're just saying no because of unknown reasons.

Has the school ever admitted above its published admission number in previous years? — because if they have, it weakens their argument that one more pupil would cause harm.
Are any Year 7 classes currently sitting below 30? — because if there's space in even one class, the case for refusal is harder to justify.
Were any children admitted outside the normal round this year? — because if they've already made exceptions, it shows the school can flex when it chooses to.

S-Notes:
I would keep the speech short, and simple enough because it is not the first time, panels have seen nervous parents before. So even if you need to take these notes with you and carryon, nobody will think less of you for it.

1- Start with your child. Who they are, not a list of achievements — just a real sense of them as a person. Why: the panel is deciding about a child, not a file. Making them real matters. Probably something like - Child has great learning aptitude or great in the things which matters most to your child and parent as well.

2- Then why this school is right for this child specifically. Not "it's a good school" — what does it offer that genuinely fits them? A subject, a club, a way of teaching, something you saw on open day. Why: this is the heart of your case. Generic praise doesn't land, specific evidence does. For example - on open day you have interacted with students and you genuinely liked the confidence with which the students carry themselves etc.

3- Then the gap. What the allocated school can't provide in the same way. You're not attacking it, you're showing a mismatch. Why: the panel needs to weigh what your child loses by not attending — if there's no clear gap, there's no strong reason to overturn.

4 - Close with something simple. "We believe [school] is the right place for [child] and we'd request the panel to admit them." That's it. Why: a clean finish sticks. Rambling at the end undoes good work and again panels aren't trying to trip you up.

Wishing everyone the best with it.

Edited

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I'm also preparing an appeal, this is great advice thank you.

Question on year 7 classes sitting beneath 30 - are you referring to current year 7 here (already at the school), or the new prospective year 7 from September 26 onwards?

The school we are appealing for has spaces in all current year 7-10 classes but (we assume) has full classes for the incoming year 7 - we missed out hence the appeal.

Original poster

Mayjane5 · 21/04/2026 12:03

Our appeal dates are not until June so a long wait 😔

OP posts:

Original poster

Mayjane5 · 28/04/2026 13:30

Hi anyone else had their appeal dates?

OP posts:

StormySam · 29/04/2026 11:03

We had our appeal this week. Stage 1 was fine - we chose not to ask questions in the group setting as we are appealing on SEN grounds and felt that whatever we asked would be too specific to our child.
Stage 2 was brutal. The panel were lovely but the representative from the school was absolutely determined not to admit anyone extra and just kept repeating the same paragraph of their case.
We find out on Friday if we are successful but they have never let anyone in on appeal so who knows?

Original poster

Mayjane5 · 29/04/2026 14:23

@st thanks for your reply, I feel ok now about presenting our case, also on sen need, I suppose it comes down to the day and the panel. I know the school I am appealing have accepted appeals in the past few years. Good luck with yours

OP posts:

MarchingFrogs · 29/04/2026 22:42

I know the school I am appealing have accepted appeals in the past few years.

The independent appeal panel decides whether an appeal should be upheld or not. If an appeal is upheld, the school has to accept that decision and the child must be admitted. No-one from the school itself has any say in the decision-making process.